Big Sable Point Lighthouse was such a fun experience! The walk out to the lighthouse is about 1.8…read moremiles each way, so just under 4 miles round trip. The trail is a wide, sandy path, so it's not difficult, but it is a pretty long walk and definitely sandy. You walk through part of the campground before heading out toward the lighthouse, and the scenery along the way is really pretty. We weren't there during the hours when the lighthouse was open, and we weren't planning on doing the tour anyway, but I believe it was $8 per person to go inside and climb the lighthouse. Even without going inside, it was absolutely worth making the walk out to see it. I also really enjoyed all of the history around the lighthouse. There were informational boards where you could stop and read about the lighthouse, the history of the area, erosion, the sand dunes, and how the landscape has changed over time. I love when places do this because it makes you appreciate what you're looking at so much more. The lighthouse itself is really cute and makes for such a great destination after the long sandy walk. There are also picnic tables around the area, so you can sit and take a break before making the walk back. If you're visiting Ludington State Park, I definitely think the walk to Big Sable Point Lighthouse is worth doing. Just wear comfortable shoes, expect a lot of sand, bring water, and give yourself plenty of time. It's not a quick little stroll, but getting out there and seeing this historic lighthouse surrounded by Lake Michigan was absolutely worth it!

Beautiful place to visit I can't wait to go back in the summer. It's a very serene place to visit.read more

Nice stop over on the side of the road just off Lake Michigan. Gives a tribute to Pere Marquette…read more A big cross overlooks both Lake Michigan and Pere Marquette Lake. Good for a 15-minute stop.

History is important. Knowing local history helps build community. Taking a bunch of area…read morehistoric buildings and putting them in one place, filled with period-correct furnishings? Brilliant! They told us we'd need a couple of hours to the see the place; we got there in the morning and stayed until closing time. If you read the signs - the way to actually learn something - 2 hours isn't nearly enough. We learned a lot about what drew people to the area, namely logging, and everything else those early residents needed in their lives. Highly educational, and we really enjoyed it.

I visited White Pine Village by myself, because my family wanted to stay at the beach, and…read morehonestly, I had a really good time here by myself. This is a historical museum, so you really need time to read things and absorb them at a slow pace. I love my children, but when they're with me at a museum, I don't have time to read or ponder anything -- I'm usually busy telling them not to touch something or stop climbing something or listening to them say how bored they are. So if you have children and you want to enjoy White Pine Village, I suggest ditching them and visiting by yourself. But! That being said, this living history museum has a lot to offer children, too. So if you do bring your kids, they will certainly have a great time. There are lots of displays to see, and lots of open areas to run around. There isn't much to touch or do, so for kids who like interactive museums, this isn't that. But you'll have fun peering into the different structures at the scenes that have been set up. My favorites were the displays with the medical supplies and the newspaper printing setup. It's really interesting to see what kinds of tools and gadgets people used 100+ years ago. I was told to allow about 1.5 to 2 hours to visit, but I was done after about 30 to 45 minutes. I tend not to be a lingerer when I visit museums, though ... or anything, really. I absorb what I need to and I get out. If you like to read every single little thing, you might be here longer.

Beautiful 207 ft brick light house that is easily accessible, even in a wheelchair along the paved…read moreshort path. Stunning views, sand will get you if wind is whipping around like today, gusts of 28 mph. Worth the little out of the way to see this well maintained beauty in Michigan.

This lighthouse is located in Silver Lakes state park so there is a fee for entry. We parked down…read morethe road for free parking and walked a few mins to the state park. Stopped in the gift shop for my passport stamp before heading to the lighthouse. For $8 you can climb to the top of this lighthouse. The paved walk way makes this lighthouse easily accessible. The brick is beautiful, highly recommend stopping to see this unique light.

This children's museum is amazing. It's the definition of small but mighty: It doesn't look like…read moremuch from the outside, or even when you first step inside. But as you explore through it, you'll see that it has way more magic hiding in every corner than you first thought. Sandcastles Children's Museum is three stories of fun. We took our 7 and 11 year old boys, and the 11 year old had just as much fun as his younger brother. That said, I would say that this museum is best suited for kids who are preschoolers through around 10 years old. One of the best parts of this museum is that it subtly references popular Ludington icons and landmarks. You'll see a play SS Badger ship, popular local restaurants on the second floor, and lots of other things that pay homage to the beach town in which the museum resides. One of our favorite spots in the museum is located on the third floor. It's there that you'll find a mini stage with several real, full-sized instruments that kids are invited to play. There are steel drums, ukuleles, guitars, pianos and lots of other instruments to try out. There's also a TV where you can watch yourself jamming on the instruments. All throughout the museum, you'll find things to play with, like a sand pit with digger toys, a play farm, play grocery store and restaurant, a veterinary office, a post office, craft station, rock climbing wall, science station, theatre stage with costumes, and lots more. There is just so much fun stuff for kids, and my children were occupied for hours.

A delightful spot to spend the day with wild kids. So many thoughtful exhibits with loads of hands…read moreon activities. My 4 year old loved the maternity ward and the 1.5 year old loved the grocery store. Loved our time at the museum. We also loved the mask requirement for all. A great way to feel safe in a world where people are getting so sick. Thank you!

The Hart Historic District is worth a visit for sure! The museum offers some amazing area historic…read moreexhibits, including; historic wood shop/wood working tools, wild life exhibits, military exhibits, and a mechanical area that is a one of a kind. The old church and school house are amazingly well kept. The picnic pavilion, new bathrooms, meeting hall, and production kitchen make this location perfect for a wedding or reunion.

The Shrine of the Pines is a Log Cabin that has a bunch of furniture made out of tree trunks,…read moreroots, and fallen logs. A lot of the work took place in the 1920's. It is a fairly intresting place in a very beautiful setting near Baldwin, Michigan. The furniture is all extremely well made. There is a $5 oral tour about the creator and his creations. I actually found this mostly boring. However that could be because the tour guide was very blah. It is worth a visit if your already in the area. Not really worth a drive though. I give it a solid 3 stars.

From the owner: A rustic furniture museum depicting the works over a 30 year using hand tools, a historic tour is…read moregiven showcasing why the museum was created and the origins of the creations. We also have a gift shop on site.

Don't bother. Seriously. Don't come here, no matter what you think might be here. I came here,…read morehoping the tower was open for climbing so I could look out over the countryside. The tower is on the National Register of Historic Places, so I decided to venture forth. Hah! Bad move on my part. (The tower in Mountain, Wisconsin is open for touring. Silly me, I thought this one was, too.) First of all, you have to want to come here. It is at the end of a National Forest Road, after branching off of another National Forest Road. What is a National Forest Road? Basically, it's an unimproved ATV trail and during the winter, a snowmobile trail. If you DO decide to venture back here (and judging from the debris left behind by ne'er do wells, several people do come here) don't follow your GPS. Some of the maps show roads that, when you get there, aren't roads at all. One "road" my GPS sent me to was a line of high power transmission towers. Even the Yelp map shows a road that isn't really there. Eventually, I did get here. When you (don't) arrive, you'll find some interpretive signage. One says you shouldn't climb the tower until it's made safe to do so. The message is dated 1988. The first flight of stairs has been removed and barbed wire lines the base of the tower - clearly, the US Forest Service doesn't want you to climb the tower. Judging from the work of local artisans on the outside of the cab, those artisans have more chutzpah than brains and not much talent. Other interpretive signs describe what these towers were used for and frankly describe the absolute isolation the spotters lived in. These towers are seldom used anymore, as airplanes can cover more territory at less cost than manning several towers. It is an anachronism but a piece of history, and it's a real shame the US Forest Service hasn't restored and opened the tower. Maybe someday, they will. Until then, read about towers rather than trying to find this one. Trust me.

My wife and I visited this historic lighthouse for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed our…read moreexperience. It is conveniently located, adequate parking on the side of the beach road, we were welcomed by lighthouse staff, paid just $5 each for this visit!, safely walked up the winding stairs up to the lighthouse top area (watch your head tall friends!), a friendly staff member gave us some very interesting historic information related to the lighthouse and took several pics of us!, the self-guided tour was very interesting (you can take your time reading any and all of the nicely framed historic documents, lighthouse stories, etc.), there was nice, clean men's and women's restrooms in the main bldg, and the grounds and buildings were all nicely maintained. You gotta check this 2nd most important lighthouse in the USA!

This was an adorable place to stop and visit. So pretty especial during the fall time. We had fun…read moregoing here and enjoying the scenery.

Amazing park and playground right near the waterfront and marina. The kids played forever and loved…read moreit. Also got to watch the SS badger come into the harbor. Definitely worth a visit!

We love this park/playground!…read more The PLAYGROUND is huge and great for kids of all ages! There are TONS of really nice play spaces for toddlers through older elementary kids. There are lots of benches and picnic tables surrounding the play areas, many of which are in the shade. RESTROOMS are indoors and have modern plumbing. There are 2 stalls in the women's;1 stall plus a urinal in the men's. PARKING is free and abundant. There's a parking lot plus on-street parking. There is a walking trail along Lake Michigan that also goes by two marinas. You can also see the SS Badger enter and leave port from the park. We will definitely return to this park if we're in the area again! The park is totally free and the kids love it!